A.J. Harmon admits he wasn't that keen on moving from the defensive to the offensive line midway through last season.

But being that head coach Mark Richtrequested the switch, Harmon said he did so with a smile.

"I think everybody knows if I could switch back I would, but I'm not really worried about it because I trust him (Richt) so much," said Harmon, who redshirted as a true freshman. "That is why I signed here. Coach Richt told me feels that would be a good move and I trust him."

Harmon said he worked almost extensively at left guard behind starter Cordy Glenn and anticipates that is where he will remain this fall.

Harmon joked that there's less of him to go around.

When he arrived as true freshman he tipped the scales at 345 pounds. Now, the former Jefferson High standout boasts that he's down to a svelte 318.

"The coaches about ran me to death," Harmon laughed. "They had me do extra cardio after practice, extra cardio at certain other times and extra cardio on the weekend. It was tough, but I can see the results."

Now, he intends to show offensive line coach Stacy Searels that he's willing to do whatever it takes to make an impact this fall.

"I just want to show him that I can be that lineman he's always looking for, a nasty SOB," Harmon said. "That's what I'm going to do."

Wood may miss year

[Defensive tackle Brandon Wood said the shoulder and wrist injury he suffered last year may cause him to miss the entire 2009 campaign.

If that happens, Wood said he would be looking at a medical redshirt.

"That's kind of where I'm at right now," Wood said. "It's disappointing, but I'm trying to keep my chin up."

Wood said he tore the labrum in his left shoulder shortly before the team left for Orlando and the Capital One Bowl. He injured his left wrist in the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech.

At least there is some good news.

Wood said he will not have to have surgery on the wrist as originally feared.

"They're just going to wrap up it up and let it heal on its own," Wood said. "We decided that would be the best thing to do instead of surgery."

New role for Gray

Backup quarterback Logan Gray he's going into spring with the mindset that he's going to be competing with senior Joe Cox for the starting job.

"I think I have to approach it that way," Gray said. "I'll just get out there, work hard and do everything I can to have a good spring. We'll just see how it goes."

Gray did say being one of the "veterans" at quarterback has taken some getting used to.

Instead of being the one with the questions, Gray laughed that the roles have been reversed.

"I'm getting a lot more than I used to," said Gray, referring to true freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger. "I don't know if you ever get to the point where you're not learning, but at least it's where I don't have to question stuff like I did before."

Gray,

who added that he's also got his weight up to 195 pounds after playing at about 183-184 for much of last year,

said he doesn't anticiapte returning punts or seeing action on special teams